Video games; A waste of time?

[Furie]

Now, I'm sure we've all heard it from someone in our lives- "Video games are a waste of time." Now, is that true?

I find gaming to be a fantastic hobby- You get to compete, explore new worlds that cannot or do not exist in real life, feel the rush of adrenaline during exciting moments and even share your stories and experiences with fellow gamers. I feel they are on par with books, movies and social networking, which are generally considered not to be a waste of time. Sure, some games are mindless shooters, but some books and movies are also mindless dabble. Same goes with any hobby, really! What matters most is the amount of effort and care is put into doing the hobby that counts, and the amount of enjoyment that is received from it.

So, what do you all think? Do you have some stories of your own to prove that gaming is a worthwhile hobby?

Or, perhaps you do find gaming to be a waste of time. If so, what do you consider not to be?

[Erranty]

I view it for what it is, Entertainment.
If a movie that lasts 2 hours costs $12 at a theater, and a game that costs $60 lasts 20 hours, what gets more bang for your buck? And then there's those games you just LOVE. I've spent 1800 hours playing monster hunter for just a combined total of $115. You can't rewatch a movie and its sequels that many times and still be entertained.

And comparing multiplayer games to something they have in common... Mario Kart and Go-Karting. The game, console, and a few controllers vs the high price of a ticket per race makes the game more cost friendly, though admittedly it doesn't give you the rush of the real thing.

Lately I've been playing less and less though because there's been fewer games that I actually enjoy.
-I'm not a fan of MMOs because I can't stand grinding.
-I'm not a fan of online multiplayer because of over competitiveness and people being too serious about the game instead of playing to enjoy it.

-I do enjoy games that put you in the same room with the other person. Like arcade style fighting games, music games, and things that just keep your friends close and give you a reason to hang out.
-I do enjoy single player games because they have better stories, action, and graphics, PLUS you can pause them or set them down at any time to get stuff done or socialize.

[Helbaworshipper]

Video Games can be wastes of time if you compare it to how much money one earns at a job. HOWEVER, I'm in the position of liking games and enjoying the writing in them. IMOQ kept me going for 150 hours and I can't even imagine the amount of time I spent grinding on pokemon. That said, I do not do many online MMORPGs. I did the first Diablo online a lot back when we had dial up. I mostly do ZOMG now if I feel like earning gold on Gaia and that's about it. As for single player, I replay games sometimes. Right now I'm doing another replay of Bioshock.

[shugo_lover]

I think people who say that lack imagination or anything else to do but criticize someone. There's nothing wrong with playing video games a couple hours a day in your spare time.

[Kuukai]

Is listening to music a waste of time? Is watching other people play sports a waste of time? I mean, because that one makes even less sense on paper than videogames. Anyone making a claim like that about games is making a ridiculously arbitrary distinction.

[shugo_lover]

Is listening to music a waste of time?

With what people listen to now a days it might as well be.

[Helbaworshipper]

Is listening to music a waste of time? Is watching other people play sports a waste of time? I mean, because that one makes even less sense on paper than videogames. Anyone making a claim like that about games is making a ridiculously arbitrary distinction.

You mean like those people that thing violent video games are the cause of all young adult violence?

[GamerKale]

I'm gonna say yes. And now that I'm too tired from spending two hours practicing the footwork Paul and Jacob showed me and otherwise working out at the gym to do anything "productive" I'm gonna go hack some monsters up until it's time for sleepytime.

[(Phantom) Thief]

Yes video games are a colossal waste of time but no more than the daily grind one might spend at job working for someone else, for yourselves, going to a restaurant or any other actives Life itself is a waste time and all things are done with or without moderation.

[Acrylic_Shadow]

A basic definition of "entertainment" as quoted from Wikipedia.

something that holds the attention and interest of an audience, or gives pleasure and delight.

Since Video Games are a form of this, why would something that's suppose to occupy your time anyway, be a waste of that said time? Going off of what Kuukai was saying, playing them isn't as different as reading a book, playing a sport, or watching a movie/TV program. They were designed to be time occupiers, not wasters, though in retrospect, it's a pretty subjective question. One could argue that all forms of entertainment were designed to waste time, but if you enjoyed the time you wasted, then it wasn't really a waste after all was it?

[.hack-fan7]

Now, I'm sure we've all heard it from someone in our lives- "Video games are a waste of time." Now, is that true?

What the hell? Who said that? WITCH!!!